The wind of change fuels green revolution

AN environmentally friendly couple are hoping to blow away their conventional heating bills.

MARGARET and Charles are hoping they get the green for go signal from the council.

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AN environmentally friendly couple are hoping to blow away their conventional heating bills.

The pair, from Alkrington, are hoping to invest £1,500 on a domestic wind turbine - following in the footsteps of Conservative leader david Cameron - to help the environment and reduce their winter bills.

Margaret and Charles White, who live on St Dominic's Way, have already applied to the council for planning permission to install the machine - thought to be one of the first in the borough - at the side of their home.

But first they have to ensure that none of their neighbours object to their plans to give their home a sustainable future.

Domestic wind turbines have become increasingly popular in the past few years with people becoming more and more aware of the need to use renewable energy sources.

And with the rise of heating and electricity bills across the board it could well be a sound financial decision too for the thousands of people that have so far made the investment.

Margaret, a geography teacher, knows only too well the devastating effects that humans have on the planet.

She said: "My family think of us as being environmentally friendly and this is one way of reducing your carbon footprint.

"We recycle and we try every way possible to look after the environment."

The 51-year-old teaches children about sustainability and how to look after the environment, so it was only natural that she sought ways to make a difference.

The turbine will be attached to the main supply of electricity at their home and add to the existing supply. Any access that is produced can then be 'sold' back to the main grid, thereby decreasing the electricity bill for the owners.

Margaret said: "We are quite high up in our position in the area so it should work effectively.

"It will be on the gable end and sticking up on the roof.

"All the neighbours I have been speaking to are interested in it," she said, "And some are even thinking about getting their own."

And as far as the noise goes, Margaret believes it won't be a problem.

She said: "There will be a slight whooshing noise but, being at the back of the house it will not disturb anyone.

"There are some wind farms in the north west, but if you look at the skyline we have thousands of pylons and different masts. Quite often you have people shouting lots about them and they are the ones producing the most carbon.

"I can imagine when more people start making domestic wind turbines the costs will come down and they will be cheaper so everyone can use them."